The biases that divide us

According to psychologists having biases can be a healthy thing but for tangible benefits "keeping them in check requires a delicate balance of self-awareness".  Asking the majority of us to "balance our self-awareness" is a tall order since most go through life without the slightest inkling who we really are.  And for those of us who actually embark on the quest for self-realization the journey itself can be more cumbersome than we are willing to commit.

I believe some of us unknowing default to our biases as we seek a comfort zone or a known quantity/quality.  But for others it is our weaknesses that lead us to use biases as a crutch.  We hide behind our self-proclaim principles, never venturing out to view the world from a different vantage point if not only to confirm that the grace is truly greener where we reside.

Everyone complains that economy and/or the country as a whole is not going in the right direction.  A quest for the exact nature of the problem is no easy feat since our view of what is missing or going wrong is fundamentally affected by our own personal biases.  Now for the man on the street it may be as simple as not having a job or worse still being homeless.  For the small business owner it might be the perceived imposition of Obama Care or the possible increase to minimum wage rate.  For the Fortune 500 companies it might the inability to bring in tax-free the trillions of dollars earned in foreign countries.

For each sector the problems are real and depending on individual perceptions and biases the gravity of the each can be life shattering.   It is easier, albeit selfish, to only worry about the things that affect you directly.  Since Main Street does not have the necessary funds to afford single-minded lobbyist who fight relentlessly to keep their issues on the forefront of policy discussions in Washington, their needs will forever be a line items that only appear during election time.

As we approach the mid-term election season take ownership of your own future.  Do not rely on media to make decisions for you.  Every news channel has its own biases and it is in understanding what these biases are that one is able to separate truth from propaganda.  Fox News will always favor the republican view, while MSNBC is the democrat equivalent.  CNN is all about the sensational - their biases are more towards ratings.  That is not say the other two channels do not worry about ratings either.  Ratings are media’s first loyalty and being informative news source to you comes well after their biases have come into play.

As individuals we owe to our future to take the necessary time to research the candidates on our ballots.  Do not allow your needs to be boxed into one party or the other.  Where a candidate does not speak to any issues that are of concern to you reach out to his local office and ask for their position on the issue.  Ask what they intend to do if elected.  More importantly once elected do not forget to hold their feet to the fire - promises made must be fulfilled.  Be your own lobbyist.